Pfizer, Inc. (U.S.) was the global leader in the vaccines market in 2015. The company focuses on organic growth strategies such as regulatory approvals for enhancing its market share. In May 2016, the company received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for TRUMENBA (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine) for the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) review process.

GlaxoSmithKline plc. (U.K.) held the second position in vaccines market in 2015 which can be attributed to the strong portfolio of vaccines products. The company also adopts inorganic growth strategies for boosting its market share. In March 2015, the company completed the acquisition of the vaccine business (excluding influenza vaccines) of Novartis AG (Switzerland).

Merck & Co. (U.S.) held the third position in vaccines market in 2015. The company adopts inorganic growth strategies such as agreements and collaborations to increase its market presence. The company signed an agreement with NewLink Genetics Corporation (U.S.) to develop, manufacture, and distribute rVSV-EBOV (Ebola) vaccine candidate in November 2014.

The key strategies followed by most companies in the vaccines market are agreements, partnerships, and collaborations; regulatory approvals; mergers and acquisitions; and expansions. The strategy of agreements, partnerships, and collaborations accounted for the largest share of the overall growth strategies mapped from 2013 to 2016. Some of the leading players that adopted this strategy include Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan), CSL Limited (Australia), Emergent Biosolutions, Inc. (U.S.), GlaxoSmithKline, plc. (U.K.), Johnson & Johnson (U.S.), MedImmune, LLC (U.S.), Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.), Pfizer, Inc. (U.S.), and Sanofi Pasteur (France). Regulatory approvals accounted for the second-largest share of the overall growth strategies adopted by players in this market.